About us

The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) is a public service agency.

The Government Communications Security Bureau (GCSB) is a public service agency.

Our mission is to provide our customers with intelligence advantage and cyber resilience to successfully navigate an unpredictable world.

We are New Zealand’s lead organisation for Signals Intelligence (SIGINT), meaning we specialise in intelligence derived from electronic communications.

We also provide cyber security and resilience for organisations of national significance.

We contribute to:

  • The protection of New Zealand’s national security
  • The international relations and wellbeing of New Zealand
  • The economic well-being of New Zealand.

Under the Intelligence and Security Act 2017 we have four core functions:

  • Intelligence collection and analysis
  • Protective security advice and assistance, including information assurance and cyber security activities
  • Co-operation with other public authorities to facilitate their functions, and
  • Co-operation with other entities to respond to imminent threat.

We have offices in three locations; Wellington, Auckland and Waihopai, near Blenheim. We also have a high frequency radio interception and direction-finding station in Tangimoana, near Palmerston North.

All collection and analysis of intelligence we undertake is in accordance with the New Zealand Government’s priorities.  These are primarily established through the National Security Intelligence Priorities - Whakaarotau Marumaru Aotearoa (NSIPs) which are set by the Government and reviewed every two years. The NSIPs outline the focus areas for all intelligence and assessment activity across the national security sector and GCSB contributes to this.

Read the National Security Intelligence Priorities - Whakaarotau Marumaru Aotearoa(external link) on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website.

We are committed to lifting our capability as a Treaty partner and have just begun our journey to understand, respect and incorporate Te Ao Māori perspectives into our every day work.

The GCSB Strategy 2023-2027 sets out the contribution we can make to Aotearoa New Zealand’s national security and economic wellbeing over the next five years. It focuses on six key shifts that we will make to enhance our mission and provide direct protection to New Zealand.

Three are focused on our work to protect Aotearoa New Zealand:

  • Protect
  • Build Resilience
  • Catalyse

The other three are focused on ensuring the GCSB is a strong and resilient agency:

  • Resilient
  • Trusted
  • Future Focused

You can read more about this in the GCSB Strategy 2023-2027.

GCSB Strategy 2023-2027 [PDF, 800 KB]

 

Our strategic alignment

The GCSB and the NZSIS each have our own strategic focus and unique identity and capabilities but the nature of our work and the complex threat environment we face create a strong partnership between us.

Our Joint Statement of Common Purpose speaks to the functions we share and our commitment to aligning with each other for greater national security outcomes.

GCSB-NZSIS Joint Statement of Common Purpose [PDF, 216 KB]

You can also read the NZSIS Strategy 2024-2029.

NZSIS Strategy 2023-2027 [PDF, 1.1 MB]

Our values as an organisation are:

Respect: We respect the role that each individual plays. We value diversity in all its forms. We treat each other with dignity.

Integrity: We act lawfully and ethically. We are accountable for our actions – both personally and as an organisation. We act professionally.

Commitment: We are committed to our purpose, to excellence, to our customers, and to the people of New Zealand.

Courage: We face facts and tell it how it is. We have courage to make the right decisions even in the face of adversity. We are prepared to try new things while managing the risk of failure.

The law requires us to do nothing that promotes or harms the interests of any political party or candidate.

Our Director-General reports to the Intelligence and Security Committee. The committee includes members from the Government and the Opposition, and Parliament endorses its membership.

Our Director-General also meets regularly with the Leader of the Opposition to keep them informed about matters of national security.

Learn more about the Intelligence and Security Committee.

Read the National Security and Intelligence Priorities(external link) on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website.

The GCSB, the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) and the National Assessments Bureau (NAB) within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet form the core national intelligence, assessment and protective security functions of the NZIC.

Our community exists to protect New Zealand as a free, open, and democratic society.

We have a crucial role to play in understanding the threats New Zealand faces and how to guard against those threats.

As a community we work to ensure New Zealand is protected from harm and that New Zealand policy makers have intelligence to support good decision making.

The intelligence-based insights and advice provided by the NZIC contribute to decisions that sustain and enhance New Zealand’s security and wellbeing.

We also work with the specialist intelligence functions of other agencies such as the New Zealand Police, the New Zealand Customs Service, the New Zealand Defence Force, and Immigration New Zealand.

NZSIS

The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) detects, investigates, assesses and mitigates threats to New Zealand’s national security, and provides a range of protective security advice and services to the New Zealand Government. The NZSIS also provides cooperation and assistance to other New Zealand government agencies.

Find out more about NZSIS.(external link)

National Assessments Bureau

The National Assessment Bureau, within the National Security Group, helps inform government decision-making by providing intelligence assessments on events and developments that are relevant to New Zealand’s interests. It is also responsible for promoting excellence in intelligence analysis across the New Zealand Government.

Find out more about the National Assessments Bureau(external link) on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website.

Find out more about the National Security Group(external link) on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website.

New Zealand is a member of the UKUSA Agreement with Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Under the agreement, we cooperate with the other members in our intelligence work. This international partnership is also called the Five Eyes.

Our organisation is too small to collect intelligence on all threats to New Zealand’s national security. The agreement means we can draw on support, technology, and intelligence that we would not otherwise be able to access.

As part of the agreement, we work with the following agencies:

Our engagement with international partners aligns with the New Zealand Government priorities, including the National Security Intelligence Priorities, and operates within the context of New Zealand’s foreign policy.

Any co-operation and intelligence sharing with international partners is subject to New Zealand’s laws, including human rights obligations, and to the laws of partner countries that share information or other support with us.

The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) is a part of the GCSB that detects, disrupts, and deters high-impact cyber threats, and it delivers preventative advice and support to nationally significant organisations.

Learn more about the NCSC(external link)